Thoughts: 1) This was more like last year for the Rangers. They got punched in the mouth and all of a sudden they decided to show up. Well, it wasn’t even a punch in the mouth, it was a dangerous, intentional, filthy hit by a cheap-shot artist of the lowest… Read More →
Thoughts: 1) Amazing how good you look when the puck goes in. Also amazing how much different this Rangers team is when most of its pieces are on the ice and somewhat healthy. Each line, each D-pair looks more like it should be getting the minutes it gets. And when… Read More →
Thoughts: 1) I spent the night talking to a bunch of youse and trying to talk some sense about what we’re seeing with this Rangers team, and I just want to be clear. I am not defending what they’re doing on the ice, or their makeup. I wondered all along… Read More →
Don’t forget today’s noon Live Chat right here. You can check in from the ledge. Thoughts: 1) For a team that’s played just 16 games, there have sure been a a lot of them for which I really don’t have an explanation. 2) I thought it was fitting, though, that… Read More →
Thoughts: 1) Even when you’ve been doing this as long as I have, and you’re sitting there writing about what an awful game you’re watching, sometimes you hesitate. I ask myself, is it just because the crowd is dead that it seems awful? Is it just because one team is… Read More →
Thoughts: 1) Remember last year when the Rangers were almost always the more physical team, the team that won more battles and dictated play, and often the faster team? I thought this was a game that kind of reminded me of last year more than any other this season. 2)... Read More →
Due to technical difficulties … only have three interviews tonight, and one of them is brief. John Tortorella: Carl Hagelin: Derek Stepan:
Thoughts: 1) Martin Biron. Let’s talk about fairness here. Because it isn’t fair if every time this guy plays and the Rangers don’t win, that it’s his fault, or the fault of the decision to play him. He’s not going to go 8-0 or 10-0 or whatever. He’s 1-0-1. Three… Read More →
First and foremost, thanks to Carp for giving me a spot in the lineup. Most appreciated. Here we are, folks. A dozen games in the books already. Twenty-five percent of the schedule done, just like that. Sure, a truncated 48-game season is better than no season at all. But it… Read More →
Before we look back at last night’s mayhem, remember we will have a Live Chat right here at noon today. Should be some interesting discussion given what happened and how it happened last night. Be there. Or else. Thoughts: 1) I haven’t had the opportunity to say this in a… Read More →
Thoughts: 1) I really wonder who John Tortorella’s tentative, scared guys are. Marian Gaborik? Michael Del Zotto (he doesn’t look tentative to me, but he made some woeful mistakes)? Brad Richards, who was demoted off the No. 1 line and terrible on the power play? Brian Boyle, who except for… Read More →
Thoughts: 1) There’s going to be a lot of obvious stuff said in the next bunch of paragraphs because there was nothing subtle here. It was very obvious. For example, the Rangers had the puck for a lot of this game, more than in any other game this season. Did… Read More →
Thoughts: 1) Wowzer. I don’t even know where to begin. That was just putrid. I thought there was a stretch there in the second period where the Rangers righted themselves a bit, and then they shot themselves in the skate with the Derek Stepan giveaway for a Sidney Crosby (who… Read More →
Here is my (unedited) column from The Journal News and LoHud.com: By Rick Carpiniello GREENBURGH – John Tortorella’s got a new toy, something he hasn’t had in his first three-plus seasons as Rangers coach. He has three legitimate first-line players, and with it the opportunity to put all those eggs… Read More →
Thoughts: 1) It is beyond stupid to think this team was going to stink it up all season. I don’t think they are where they need to be, and they still need to get more from the guys who play on the second line, or who are supposed to play… Read More →
Thoughts: 1) Look at the guys who played important roles and/or played really well at times, or for most of last season, who have played poorly through all four, or parts of all four games this year: Brian Boyle, Derek Stepan, Carl Hagelin, Brad Richards to a degree; Marc Staal,... Read More →
REMINDER: We will have our third Live Chat of the season today at noon. Plenty to talk about, including the big win over Boston last night and tonight’s game against the 0-3 and very desperate Orange Crud. Be there. Or else. ******************************************** Here’s the MSG link to John Tortorella’s post-game… Read More →
I certainly don’t want to make a big deal about the feisty edge the Rangers might have lost over the off-season. As I said earlier, a few times, I think the Rangers are going to be a little different this year. More speed. More high-end skill. And as much as… Read More →
Thoughts: 1) I still think the staged fights are dumb and mostly useless. But to a degree I agree with John Tortorella, that when a guy is in that kind of battle, right in front of your bench, teammates need to take that and run with it, at least a… Read More →
Rangers vs. Penguins. Game 2. The 0-1 Rangers go with the same lineup, other than Arron Asham, coming off his suspension from last season’s playoffs, making his Rangers debut in place of Brandon Segal, who was returned to the Connecticut Whale (AHL) as planned. Are you ready for some Sidney… Read More →
